Can someone tell me if the Center Carrier bearing and housing is replaceable without cutting the drive shaft and re welding together? I was told by a drive line shop that you had to cut the shaft in two in order to install the new Center Support Bearing.

Thanks!

ou18

11-20-2012 07:30 AM

You dont have to CUT it in two. The U Joints at the center come apart and then the Center Bearing comes off. I took mine to a local BMW shop down here. Brought my parts and they did the work as I didnt have the tools to do it. Figured this was something that would be better having a shop do.

So it doesnt need to be CUT. just disassembled... find another shop...

Let me caveat this. That was on my 1997 740 IL. not sure what year your car is. So maybe its slightly different.

And it was quite a bit of work to get the driveshaft out. Support Tranny, remove the exhaust etc.